Parasomnia (album)

Last updated
Parasomnia
Dream Theater - Parasomnia.jpg
Cover art by Hugh Syme
Studio album by
Dream Theater
ReleasedFebruary 7, 2025
RecordedFebruary–July 2024
StudioDTHQ, Long Island, New York
Genre
Length71:15
Label Inside Out
Producer John Petrucci
Dream Theater chronology
A View from the Top of the World
(2021)		Parasomnia
(2025)
Singles from Parasomnia
  1. "Night Terror"
    Released: October 10, 2024 [2]
  2. "A Broken Man"
    Released: December 3, 2024 [3]
  3. "Midnight Messiah"
    Released: January 22, 2025

Parasomnia is the upcoming sixteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, set to be released on February 7, 2025. [2] It will be the band's first studio album in over fifteen years to feature original drummer Mike Portnoy since Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009); it will also be the first album with Portnoy to not feature him as co-producer since Falling into Infinity (1997). [2]

Contents

Background and production

Dream Theater's intention to work on their sixteenth studio album was first mentioned about six months after A View from the Top of the World, with keyboardist Jordan Rudess speaking to VW Music about the band's future plans: "After we get back from its last show of the European tour we have a bit of a break. And after I finish my solo shows, Dream Theater will continue on the road with some shows in Japan, South America, and more to be announced as we go. When that settles down, we'll be entering the studio again, and doing a new album, which will be awesome. So, yeah, stuff like that is on the horizon." [4] [5]

In October 2022, guitarist John Petrucci stated that Dream Theater would begin recording their sixteenth studio album in late 2023. [6] Two months later, frontman James LaBrie said that he did not "see [the band] going into the studio until the beginning of '24", adding, "I don't think it would make sense to be in there before then. But don't quote me on that. Some things always change." [7]

On October 25, 2023, Dream Theater announced that drummer Mike Mangini had departed as they reunited with Mike Portnoy after thirteen years, a culmination of reconciliation between Portnoy, Petrucci, Myung, Rudess and LaBrie; LaBrie and Portnoy had not spoken for eleven years until their 2022 show in New York. [8] The band confirmed that it would record its first studio album with Portnoy in fifteen years. [9] Said Portnoy in an interview with Rolling Stone , "I don't want to be over-philosophical about it, but we're all getting older. Here we are in our 50s and 60s. You start to think of the reality of, 'How much time do we have left?' I would hate it if this were to become a Roger Waters–Pink Floyd or Peter Gabriel with Genesis situation where the fans want it, but it never happens." [8]

Progress on the follow-up to A View from the Top of the World had begun by February 2024, when Portnoy posted pictures from DTHQ on his Instagram account, revealing that the album was being recorded. [10] [11] On April 2, 2024, Petrucci and Portnoy announced that all of the writing and the drum tracks were completed, [12] and further recording took place until July of that year. [13] [14] [15]

On October 10, 2024, Dream Theater released "Night Terror" as the first single for the album and announced the title, track list and release date. [2] A second single, "A Broken Man", was released on December 3, 2024, [3] followed by "Midnight Messiah" on January 22, 2025. [16]

Reception

Parasomnia was highly anticipated, with Loudwire , Stereogum and Ultimate Guitar naming it in their lists of the most anticipated albums of 2025. [17] [18] [19]

Track listing

All music is composed by John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, James LaBrie and Mike Portnoy.

No.TitleLyricsLength
1."In the Arms of Morpheus"(instrumental)5:22
2."Night Terror" John Petrucci 9:55
3."A Broken Man" James LaBrie 8:30
4."Dead Asleep" 11:06
5."Midnight Messiah" Mike Portnoy 7:58
6."Are We Dreaming?" 1:28
7."Bend the Clock" 7:24
8."The Shadow Man Incident" 19:32
Total length:71:15

Personnel

Production

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References

  1. ↑ Grow, Kory. "Dream Theater Tease 'Parasomnia' Album With 10-Minute 'Night Terror'". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "DREAM THEATER To Release Parasomnia Album In February; "Night Terror" Single And Music Video Out Now". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  3. 1 2 Ewing, Jerry (December 3, 2024). "Dream Theater share hard-hitting video for new single A Broken Man". Louder. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ "An Interview with Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater". vwmusicrocks.com. April 15, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Dream Theater – Sixteenth Studio Album In The Works". Metal Storm. April 19, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Dream Theater To Begin Recording New Album In Late 2023". Blabbermouth.net. October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  7. ↑ "James LaBrie Doesn't Think Dream Theater Will Begin Recording Next Album Before Early 2024". Blabbermouth.net. December 19, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Grow, Kory (8 April 2024). "Dream Theater on Emotional Mike Portnoy Reunion, First 40th Anniversary Tour Dates". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Dream Theater Announces Return Of Drummer Mike Portnoy". Blabbermouth.net. October 25, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  10. ↑ Kennelty, Greg (February 7, 2024). "Dream Theater In The Studio, Mike Portnoy Shows Off His Drum Kit". Metal Injection. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Dream Theater Officially Begins Work On First Studio Album With Mike Portnoy In 15 Years". Blabbermouth.net. February 9, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  12. ↑ "DREAM THEATER Completes Writing First Album With MIKE PORTNOY In 15 Years: It 'Came Out So Amazing'". Blabbermouth.net. April 2, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Guitar tracking officially completed for the new DREAM THEATER album!". May 1, 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ↑ "Instagram". Instagram.com.
  15. ↑ "Instagram".
  16. ↑ https://lambgoat.com/news/45741/dream-theater-offer-third-new-single-midnight-messiah-and-music-video/
  17. ↑ "The Most Anticipated Rock + Metal Albums of 2025". Loudwire . December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  18. ↑ "UG Awards: Top 20 Most Anticipated Albums of 2025". Ultimate Guitar . December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  19. ↑ "The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2025". Stereogum . December 30, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
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